Los Angeles

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Atheist Nexus is just one month old, and I seem to be the first member from L.A. I went ahead and started this group so that other L.A. people can join as they become members of The Nexus. I'm looking forward to having some friends here!

Tuesday, April 12Join us for "Pinot & pizza" at 7 p.m.Lecture begins at 8

Who owns the best ideas about the good and well-lived life? Noted scholar A.C. Grayling says it is philosophy and presents the idea of a humanist bible drawn from the great non-religious traditions of thought about ethics and humanity in world history. He has made a humanist bible out of texts that embody these traditions and will explain how it was done and what it says about how we should live. Copies of his new book, The Good Book: A Humanist Bible, will be available for sale in the book store and signing by the author.

Grayling is professor of philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is the author of numerous books, including Among the Dead Cities: The History and Moral Legacy of the WWII Bombing of Civilians in Germany and Japan, Descartes: The Life and Times of a Genius, Toward the Light of Liberty: The Struggles for Freedom and Rights That Made the Modern Western World, Meditations for the Humanist, and Thinking of Answers: Essays in the Philosophy of Life. A former fellow of the World Economic Forum and past chairman of the human rights organization June Fourth, he contributes frequently to the (London) Times, Financial Times, Economist, New Statesman, and Prospect. Grayling's play Grace, co-written with Mick Gordon, was acclaimed in London and New York. He lives in London.

I'm searching for someone local who may have some insight into, or ideally, some past experience with polygamist cults. I am currently producing a completely ridiculous television show and need someone who can appear on-camera as a cult "expert". I'm looking for basic stats about polygamists like: How many of these cult groups currently exist in the US? How do they internally operate? How is the leader chosen? Is there a recruiting process? What religions are most commonly related with polygamy?...just some basic weirdo info like that. I apologize for this trolling type of post, but I know one of my fellow non-believers will be a perfect "expert" for this. If you are interested or know someone who would be perfect or just want to tell me to fuck off, send me a message. Thanks everybody!!

The biographer of Woody Allen, Eric Lax will discuss his deeply felt exploration of his loss of faith based on his book, Faith, Interrupted: A Spiritual Journey, which has just been issued in paperback.

The son of an Episcopal priest, Lax developed in his youth a deep religious attachment and an acute moral compass - one that he was willing to go to prison for when it led him to resist military service in Vietnam. His faith remained until, in his mid-thirties, he began to question the role of God in his life. In response, Lax engaged with the father who inspired him and with his best friend, a Vietnam War hero turned priest. Their ongoing and illuminating dialogues, full of wisdom and insight, reveal much about three men who approach God, duty, and war in vastly different ways. Lax provides an unusual and refreshing perspective, examining religious conviction sympathetically from both sides as one who has lost his faith but still respects it.

Lax is also the author of Conversations with Woody Allen; On Being Funny: Woody Allen and Comedy; Life and Death on 10 West, and coauthor (with A. M. Sperber) of Bogart. His biography Woody Allen was a New York Times best seller. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Esquire, and the Los Angeles Times.

Lax spoke at a previous Cafe Inquiry on his book The Mold in Dr. Florey's Coat. Copies of the paperback Faith, Interrupted will be available for sale and signing by the author. Free admission • Free Starbucks coffee • Free pizza

Donations to help keep this program running are much appreciated.Held in the Steve Allen Theater lobby at CFI-L.A.

Sunday, March 13th, 11am

"The Good Death"

with End-of-life Quality Ethicist Dr. Melvin Kirschner

The ancient followers of the philosopher, Epicurus, expressed the lack of fear of dying. "Death is nothing to us." Tombstones of his followers read, "I was not, I was, I am not. I care not."

Today, we debate the best way to exit a full life with a graceful and dignified death.

Doctor Kirschner has sixty years of experience while working in the California public health and heath care arenas. Early on he also became active in biomedical ethics. He was a member of several biomedical ethics committees that wrote guidelines regarding patient rights end-of-life issues and other ethical issues. A number of these guidelines are now California law. Although now retired from Family Practice, he is still active in biomedical ethics.

He still is in demand for radio and TV interviews and continues to write editorials, articles and Op-Ed pieces regarding current issues in health care.

HALA is a chapter of the American Humanist Association. This meeting is free and the public is invited. Our web site is www.hala.org

Come and celebrate the longest night of 2010 with an afternoon of music (The Heathens will be back!) and fun! Socialize with the evil secularists and the dreaded skeptics. Eat, drink, and shop at the CFI-L.A. bookstore for holiday presents. Admission is free. Donations gratefully accepted for food and drink.